Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Paud, May 4: A wave of anger has swept through Pune district following a deeply disturbing incident at the Nageshwar Temple in Paud village. Authorities have apprehended a 44-year-old man and detained his minor son in connection with the defilement of the revered idol of Goddess Annapurna.
The sacrilegious act, chillingly captured by the temple's CCTV surveillance, ignited immediate protests from incensed locals who gathered outside the temple premises.
Police have identified the arrested individual as Naushad Shaikh. His 16-year-old son, alleged to be the perpetrator of the desecration, is now in custody for questioning.
According to official reports, the appalling incident unfolded on Friday. The surveillance footage reportedly shows the minor entering the sacred space and making lewd and sexually explicit gestures directed at the idol of the Goddess. Unaware that his actions were being recorded, the minor continued with the offensive behavior, leaving temple visitors and village residents in a state of shock and fury.
The discovery of the desecrated idol was made on May 2nd by a local devotee who had come to offer prayers. Upon noticing the idol's condition, the devotee immediately alerted others. A review of the CCTV footage then revealed the full extent of the sacrilege. The disturbing visuals rapidly circulated, further fueling public outrage.
Senior Inspector Santosh Girigosavi of the Paud Police Station revealed that when confronted by the local community, the accused family displayed a shocking lack of remorse. Villagers alleged that the father not only failed to express any regret but also reportedly issued threats to those who confronted him about his son's actions.
Consequently, the villagers lodged a formal police complaint, prompting authorities to register a case against both the father and the minor son. The First Information Report (FIR) has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 196, 298, 299, 302, 351(2), and 3(5). Police have stated that the accused father works as a bakery worker and originally hails from Bihar, while his minor son was born in Paud and received his education locally up to Class 4.
Despite the intense public outcry, police officials have assured the community that the situation in the area remains under control. Additional security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order and prevent any potential escalation.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has voiced a strong reaction to the incident. Sharing the CCTV footage on social media platform X, he ominously stated, "You will get a befitting reply!"